Bin

Mandarin GCSE and A Level Examiner. Qualified teacher with QTS and more than 10 years of teaching experience in state and independent schools. Head of Mandarin. Can also teach 13+ and HSK.

Tutoring Experience

As a native Chinese speaker with Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) in teaching Mandarin, I have successfully taught students of all proficiency levels, from complete beginners to advanced speakers and business-level Mandarin. My class contents are tailored to meet each student's specific needs.

I have been an Edexcel GCSE, CIE International A-Level examiner for a few years. My students achieved excellent results. For example, last year all my GCSE students reached 7-9.

There is a proven track record of excellent results among my pupils in HSK, GCSE, IGCSE, A-Level Chinese, 11+, and 13+ exams, as well as in spoken and business Chinese. With more than 10 years of experience in state and independent schools in the UK, I bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the classroom.

Testimonials:
Zach was my Chinese language teacher when I was working at the Canadian Embassy in Beijing. His experience and love of teaching helped me learn not only the language but also understand the culture and enjoy the people. I wish I had had more time to dedicate to my studies. Zach showed patience beyond belief and I would recommend him without any hesitation.
- Suzie (Civil Servant at Government of Canada)

“Zach is a very reliable teacher and I know that he is regularly taking courses/reading material to improve and optimize his communication/pedagogical skills with his foreign students. As a simple example, I would say that he never teaches a rule without coming back on it after a while, in a diverted way so as to check that I had fully understood the point. In addition, and this is a very important issue for ‘professional students’, i.e. professionals who try to study during their spare time (as opposed to full time ones), Zach is very dynamic and encouraging person.”
—Sarah Stokoe, 19 December, 2018

“His exceptionally patient character and strong communication skills encourage his students to be self-confident in both their oral and written language. I always feel that he gets the balance right between encouraging confidence in the student’s own ability, and gently extending their comfort zone. He is very conscientious in everything he does, takes his responsibilities seriously and always prepares well for his lessons.”
—Catherine Harju, 17 December, 2008

“Based on the one year experience under Zach’s teaching, it is clear that he has extremely good ability to control the teaching, support the students, and focus on the important aspects of the teaching and to create a friendly atmosphere supporting continuous learning. Through his teaching, I and my wife have received a solid basis on Chinese language and the ability to continue our studies further.”
—Timo Lindfors, 27 February, 2008

Tutoring Approach

As a Mandarin teacher, I view my role as not only teaching the language, but also introducing my students to Chinese culture. My teaching approach extends beyond textbooks and incorporates current events and popular media, including news, television, films, and music, to create a well-rounded and immersive learning experience.

When guiding students towards GCSE, A-Level, 11+, or 13+ exams, I ensure they have a comprehensive understanding of the exam format and a clear roadmap for their exam preparation. This helps students approach the exams with confidence and achieve their best possible results.